Exposure to racism, prejudice, and stereotypes is common in a student's first experiences in a university setting. Language can be a tool to dispel this lack of knowledge about differences in cultures. Awareness of the negative effects of certain words in the English language is one of the first steps to breaking down barriers of discrimination.…

This paper proposed some limitations on "quantitative-only" research focusing on Puerto Rican poverty in the United States. An overreliance on quantitative data may not allow for a full understanding and awareness of the nature and maintenance of poverty in Puerto Rican communities in the United States. An understanding of Puerto Rican…

This resource manual is designed to provide Peace Corps trainers, trainees, and volunteers with an opportunity to learn more about diversity in the United States so they may help others they are serving to understand what it means to be an American. Section I contains six activities for preservice training: Just the Facts; If I Were; Stereotypes:…

For the young child, the onset of speech and language acquisition is a milestone to be expected somewhere between 10-30 months of age. Behaviors exhibited by the people in the child's environment both before and after the onset of speech have infinitely more impact upon language learning--and eventually all learning--than the onset of the event…

This paper examines the impact of ethnocultural diversity on the process of collaboration. Section 1 shares stories of several different experiences with collaborative efforts, highlighting key assumptions about how people work together and how culture impacts assumptions. Section 2 discusses problems and issues related to collaborating. For…

This paper summarizes 10 research-based principles for improving children's reading achievement. The principles are: (1) home language and literacy experiences that lead to development of key print concepts are plentiful; (2) preschool programs are beneficial for children who do not experience informal learning opportunities in their homes; (3)…

This book is a resource for teachers that contains 28 exercises and planned activities designed by individual authors that can be used to teach about culture, ethnicity, and diversity. The exercises and activities are appropriate for graduate, college, and even advanced high school students in such classes as cross-cultural psychology,…

Supportive classroom environments can enhance students' learning about their own diversity as well as that of others. Discussing basic diversity variables such as gender, age, and race can raise awareness and conscious decision making about how students use and view communication in their everyday lives. A graduate student instructor enhances her…

This publication was developed by the Reference and Adult Services Division/Machine-Assisted Reference Section/User Access to Services committee of the 1993 ALA (American Library Association) Midwinter meeting, and was designed for archivists, publishers, librarians, and associates in research centers and societies. Information is presented on how…

Arab Americans share a culture which places religious beliefs firmly at the core of all aspects of life. A brief description of what an Arab is and the historical background of the Arab world are provided. This background is placed in context of Arabs' immigration to the United States and the views of the West by Arabs and of Arabs by Westerners.…

This teacher's guide focuses on diversity and concentrates on issues of race and ethnicity. It is designed to provide instructional support for classroom use of "The Challenge of Diversity," (student text). The guide outlines recommended lesson sequences incorporating readings, directing discussions, and offering interactive activities,…

This book focuses on diversity, concentrating on issues of race and ethnicity and on the contributions made, and challenges faced, by the nation's racial and ethnic communities. The easy-to-read, graphically highlighted materials in the book invite students to confront the challenges of living in a diverse society by looking at the past, present,…

This document presents four research-based papers that were the catalyst for discussions at the first Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning diversity roundtable in 1998. The goals established for this roundtable included: building participants' capacity for working with diverse populations; providing a catalyst for participants to…

Building a strong relationship between parents and their preschool-aged child's teacher can be difficult when the parents and teachers speak different languages and come from different cultures. This paper discusses how a parent from east Africa with language and cultural differences dealt with a local school system to ensure that her young…

California State University Bakersfield (CSUB) is a major and growing supplier of new teachers for Kern County, California. A program was developed to help new teachers, most of whom are not Hispanic, understand the 45% Hispanic school population in Kern County. It is important for teachers to know and understand what they can of the similarities…